A have-a-go hero who was slashed in the head when confronting robbers at his home managed to stab one during the tussle.

Brave Martin Aston, 57, of Leicester Road in Hinckley, was putting out his rubbish on Sunday at 8pm when the terrifying drama unfolded.

He noticed the spikes on top of his back gate had been ripped off, the gate was ajar and a bin had been moved.

But when he pushed open the gate to see what was going on he was met by the horrifying sight of two men brandishing knifes.

Mr Aston, who lives in the house with his partner, her two teenage children and their two dogs, said: “It happened within seconds.

“It was pitch black. I just saw the knife was about four to five inches but I couldn’t see much.

“The first came at me. I was watching him and I blocked his hand. He raised his hand and I looked at the knife and saw it was coming down. I blocked it and he ran off.

“Then another guy came at me - he also had a knife.

“We struggled. I managed to grab his hand with the knife in and spun him round and stabbed him in the shoulder. I don’t know how bad his injury was.

“He also got away. I wanted to chase after them but I decided to go around the back of the house because I’d left the back door open and I didn’t know if there was a third man. My partner was in the house by herself and I was worried about her.

“If it hadn’t been me that went out it could have been a lot worse. Luckily I have had some basic combat training.”

Mr Aston was left with two cuts to his head that were around four inches long and cuts and abrasions to his arms and knuckles.

Mr Aston’s partner Karen Lock said: “There was blood everywhere and he came in screaming to dial 999. I didn’t see the people.

“Now we have stepped up the security even more.”

Mr Aston said the men were in their late 20s or early 30s. He said one man was just over 6ft and the other was around 5ft 11, with a round face and sideburns, and they were both wearing dark clothes. Mr Aston said the men tried to steal several items from his shed, including a crowbar and axe, but didn’t take anything.

He added: “They were so brazen. I have CCTV cameras and the one that covers the bin area wasn’t working at the time. It has been fixed now.

“People just need to be aware at night and tell their neighbours and the police if they see anything suspicious.”